Covering for ash-carts or other vehicles.



No. 939,999. Patented on. 3, I899.

T. HILL. COVERING FUR ASH CABTS OR OTHER VEHICLES.

(Application fil ed Apr. 14, 1899.) (No llodei.)

,M/VENTOH I By . UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS HILL, or JEnsEr CITY, NEW JERSEY.

COVERING FOR ASH-CARTS OR OTHER VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,999, dated October 3, 1899.

Application filed April l4, 18 99.

T0 aZZ wiwnt it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS HILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson-and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coverings for Ash- Carts or other Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in' coverings for vehicles, and pertains more particularly to appliances for supporting a can vas covering over the vehicle for securely inclosing the material carriedthereby.

In presenting my invention in this application I illustrate and describe the same as applied to carts for collecting ashes and other refuse and conveying the same to the locations where in the usual manner the carts are dumped.

The object of the invention is to provide efcicnt, durable, and convenient means for preventing the ashes or other refuse from being blown about by the Wind during their collection and deposit into the carts as well as during the travel of the carts to the dumps or dumping-ground; and a further object of the invention is to provide means of the char-- acter described which will withstand rough usage and not interfere with the dumping of the carts.

In carrying my invention into effect 1 provide a canvas covering adapted to the size of the cart and suspend it along its longitudinal center upon a rope extending centrally over the body of thecart and secured at its ends to standards attached to the ends of said body, said standards, or one of them, having a hinged section to which the end of the rope is applied and which section when turned in one direction will draw the rope taut and when turned in the opposite direction will slacken the rope and permit of the detachment of the rear standard from the cart-body without being loosened from the rope preparatory to the dumping of the cart. Upon the detachment of the rear standard from the cart-body and the dumping of the cart the canvas covering will remain upon the rope and the rope will remain fastened at its front end to the' frontstandard, and hence when the cart is'dumped the ashes and other refuse will pass from below the then loose Serial No. 712,987. (No model.)

been dumped and righted therear standard will be reapplied and its hinged section turned to draw the supporting-rope taut.

Theinvention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of a usual ashcart equipped with covering appliances constructed in accordance with and embodying my invention, a portion of the canvas sheet and the end standards to which the ends of the rope are secured being shown in central vertical longitudinal section, Fig. 2 is a rear end view of same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached. rear elevation of the rear standard. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of same on the dotted line 4 4. of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a detached sectional view of a portion of the movable section of the standards and is intended to illustrate more particularly the manner of securing the end of the rope to said movable section.

In the drawings, Adesignates a usual form of ash'cart' used in cities for the collection of ashes and other refuse, and my present invention is illustrated as applied to the body of the ash-cart A.

The canvas sheet is lettered B, and,as ill ustrated, this sheet B is suspended along its line of center from the ropeC, extending centrally above the ash-cart A and secured at its ends to the standards D E, respectively,

which are attached to the ends of the body of the cart. The canvas sheet or coveringB is provided with loops B, through wliich the rope 0 passes, and is also provided with cords or other suitable fastening means G, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the edges of the canvas B may be fastened to the side edges of the'body of the cart, the latter preferably being provided with loops or eyes H to receive the ends of the cords G. The invention is not limited to the employment of the cords G and eyes H, since it is well known that the edges of the canvas could be 'secdred'to the edges of the body of the cart by various means,

which would simply form the equivalent for the specific cords G and eyes II shown. The loops F of the canvas B are simply strung upon the rope O, and hence are not rigidly secured in fixed position upon said rope, but may yield or slide thereon' as occasion may demand.

The standards D E substantially correspond with one another, except at their lower portions, whereat they are attached to the body of the cart, and each of said standards is in the form of an open bifurcated frame, as shown in Fig. 3, carrying at its upper end a grooved wheel I and provided with the movable section J, which is mounted upon short axles or studs K K, set outward beyond the vertical plane of the wheel I. The standards D E are formed with the projectinglugs L to receive the short axles or studs K, and said standards D E are also formed with the connecting-bars M, which are simply for the purposes of affording strength and rigidity to the standards. The movable section J of the standards D Eis adapted'to have a hingelike motion upon the axles K, as indicated by the arrows inFigs. 1 and 4, and said section .I is an open bifurcated frame, having at its lower end the handle-bar N and above said handle-bar the transverse bar 0, carrying at its center the cone-shaped socket P, the latter having a contracted upper end, as shown in Fig. 5. One end of the rope C is secured within the socket P of the standard D, and the other end of the rope O is secured within the corresponding socket P of the standard E. The ends of the rope G will preferably simply be knotted, as indicated in Fig. 5, to prevent their slipping through the sockets P.

The length of the'rope C is such that when the hinged sections J of the standards D E are in their downward position (shown in Figs. 1 and 4) the said rope will be taut and evenly hold the canvas sheet B along its central line ata substantially uniform elevation above the body of the cart. When one or both of the hinged or movable sections J of the standards D E relax the rope O by being turned upward, the slackening of the rope C will permit of the ready detachment of the rear standard E from the body of the cart, as hereinafter described. When the sections J of the standards D E. are turned to their downward position, the lower ends of the rope are brought inward beyond the line of the axles K, and hence the tension of the rope at such time will serve to lock said sections J in their lower position, the greater the tension of the rope the more firmly said sections J becoming locked in their downward position. It is intended that when the sections J are in their downward position the rope C shall be drawn firmly into a taut condition in order that said sections J may only turn outward and upward upon the application of direct force to them to accomplish that result.

It is intended that the front standard D shall be permanently attached to the body of end of the body of the cart, as indicated in Fig. 1. The lower portion of the rear standard E is formed with the jaws or bifurcated extensions T, which are adapted to pass upon the rear edges of the cart, whereat is customarily employed the strengthening-strip of metal V. It will be observed that when the rope O is drawn taut the tension of the rope against the standard E, having the jaws T,will operateto effectually retain said standard E upon the cart-body, but as an additional security I provide in aid of retaining the standardE upon the cart-body the springclips \V, which are pivoted to the lower arms of the jaws T and operate in slots X, formed in said arms. The springs Y'for the clips IV are ordinary coiled springs, and they exert a normal tension to retain the lower hooked ends of the clips W against the lower edges of the strengthening-strip V, as indicated in Fig. 1. In the drawings I provide each of the jaws T with a spring-clip W', but ordinarily it will not be necessary to employ more than one of the spring-clips, since even in the absence of the spring-clips W or any equivalent device it has been found in practice that the tension of the rope Gis sufficient to maintain the standard E upon the cart-body.

In the employment of the invention the standards D E, canvas B, and rope 0 being in position and said rope being taut by reason of the hinged sections J of said standards being in their lower position, the attendants or driver and his helper will exercise their discretion as to the manner of utilizing the canvas sheet. It will be impossible to empty the cans of ashes and other refuse into the cart when the sides of the canvas sheet 13 are fastened down to the side edges of the body of the cart, and hence the attendants will loosen one or both sides of said canvas sheet from the cart-body and throw the loosened side or sides of said sheet upward upon the rope O, Which will hold the same out of the way. One of the main objects the attendants should seek to accomplish in handling the canvas sheet B is to prevent the ashes or other refuse while being thrown into the cart from being scattered by the wind, and hence it will usually be desirable while collecting the ashes and other refuse for the attendant to unloosen only one side of the canvas sheet B in order thereby the more effectually to prevent the scattering of the ashes and other refuse. After the cart shall have been loaded with the ashes and other refuse both sides of the canvas sheet B will be secured to the side edges of the body of the cart, and hence dureeaeee I ing the travel of the cart to the place where the ashes and other refuse are'to be dumped the ashes and other refuse will be prevented from being blown about by the wind. The rope 0 holds the canvas at such elevation along its middle portion that the cart may be able to carry a very full load. ing at the place where the carts are to be dumped the driver will, after backing up the cart, alight and turn the hinged section J of the rear standard E upward, so as to slacken the rope, and if the spring-clips \V are employed'he will also loosen said clips from the rear edge of the body of the cart. tendant may, if the rope O has been slackened, withdraw thelower portion of the standard Efrom the cart,leaving it hanging loosely, by means of the rope C, over the end of the cart. If the spring-clips W are not employed, the driver need only turn the hinged section J of the standard E upward to slackenthe rope 0, since the subsequent operations will cause the rear standard E to leave the edge of the cart. After the hinged section J of the standard E has been turned upward, the spring-clips (if the latter are employed) relieved from the rear edge of the cart-body, and the cords G loosened the cart-body will be dumped in the usual way, the result being that the ashes and other refuse will pass from beneath the canvas sheet 13 without carrying away said sheet or the-rear standard E, these parts being held by the rope C. After the dumping has been performed the body of the cart will be righted, and the rear standard E will be again applied to the rear edge of the bodyof the cart audits section Jturned downward, so as to tighten the rope C, and thereupon the cart will be ready to proceed to the collection of ashes and other refuse, as before. V

If occasion should render the same necessary, the rope C may be slackened from the front end of the cart instead of the rear end thereof by simply turning the hinged section J of the front standard I) upward; but the ordinary method will be to slacken said rope by turning the section J of the rear standard E upward. If for any reason due to the character of material being carried 'or other cause a greater slackness is desired in the rope C than that secured by turning one of the sections J upward, both of said sections J may be to rned upward to secu re that result. Ordinarily, however, when ashes and like refuse are being carried only one of the hinged sections J need be turned upward in order to secure the proper slackness in the rope O.

The conical sockets P are provided to retain the ends of the rope C, since they permit of a very quick and convenient attachment of the ends of the rope to the standards D E and also admit of the adjustment of the rope when necessary, as in case from any cause the rope should either lengthen or contract. If the rope 0 should lengthen, it will be found very easy for the driver to turn the The atsection J of the standard D upward, so as to slacken the rope, and then shortemthe rope by tying the knot at the end thereof a little farther along, so that when the section J shall be again turned downward the rope may be given the proper degree of tautness. The rope C may be adjusted as to its length at either the standard D or at the standard E, since both the standards correspondwith one another in the employment of the hinged section J, having the conical socket P to receive the knotted end of'the rope.

It will be evident that in lieu of employing the conicalsockets P the ends of the rope O Y might simply be tied around the transverse bar 0 of the hinged sections J, and I have followed this course in some instances, but deem it more desirable to employ the conical sockets P to receive the knotted ends of the rope both as-a matter of convenience and a saving in time in applying the rope and adjusting the length of the same.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the vehicle-body,

the canvas covering, the rope suspending said covering along its center, and the standards at the front and rear ends of said body to re- .ceive the ends of said rope, the rear standard able section forslackening or drawing taut said rope; substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the vehicle-body, the canvas covering, the rope suspending said covering along its center, and the standards at the front and rear ends of saidbody to receive the ends of said rope, the rear standard being detachable from said body and having.

the hinged section by which the rope may be lockedin taut condition; substantially as set forth.

l. In combination with the vehicle-body, the canvas covering, the rope suspending said covering along its center, and the standards at the front and rear ends of said body to receive the ends of said rope, said standards having the hinged sections to which the ends of said rope are secured and which are adapted when turned in one direction to hold the said rope taut and when turned in the oppo-.

site direction to slacken said rope; substantially as set forth.

5. In .combination with the vehicle-body, the canvas covering, the rope suspending said covering along its center, and the standards at the front and rear ends of said body to receive the ends of said rope, the roar standard being detachable from said body and having the grooved wheel at its upper end, over which the rope passes, and the hinged section to which the end of the rope is secured and which when turned downward will pass inward beyond the vertical plane of said wheel and draw the rope taut and become looked under the tension of said rope; substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the vehicle-body,

the canvas covering, the rope suspending said I covering along its center, and the standards at the front'and rear ends of said body to receive the ends of said rope, the rear standard having below its upper end over which the rope passes, the hinged section to which the end of said rope is secured and which is adapted to draw the rope taut or slacken the same; substantially as set forth.-

7. In combination with the vehicle-body, the canvas covering, the rope suspending said covering along its center, and the standards at the front and rear ends of said body to receive the ends of said rope, the rear standard having below its upper end over which the rope passes, the hinged section provided with the socket to receive the end of the rope and the handle-bar by which said section may be turned to draw the rope taut or slacken the same; substantially as set forth.

8. In combination with the vehicle-body, the canvas covering, the rope suspending said covering along its center, and the standards at the front and rear ends of said body to receive the ends of said rope, the rear standard being detachable from the said body and having at its lower end the jaws to pass upon the edges of said body, and the said rear standard also having below its upper end over which the rope passes, the hinged section to which the end of the rope is secured and which is adapted, when turned, to draw the rope taut or slacken the same; substantially as set forth.

9. In combination with the vehicle-body, the canvas covering, the rope holding and suspending the same along its center, and the standards at the front and rear ends of said body to receive the ends of said rope, the rear standard being detachable so that upon the dumping of the cart the material may pass freely from below the canvas, the latter and the rear standard being at such time held by said rope; substantially as set forth. I

10'. In combination with the vehicle-body, the canvas covering having means for securing its side edges and provided with the loops along its center, the rope passing through said loops and holding and suspending said canvas, and the standards at the front and rear ends of said body to receive the ends of said rope, the rear standard being detachable so that upon the dumping of the cart the material may pass freely from below the canvas, the latter and the rear standard being at such time held by said rope; substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 11th day of April, A. D. 1899.

THOHAS HILL. 

